Renaud Laplanche
Founder & CEO Upgrade
Renaud is the co-founder and CEO of Upgrade, Inc., a fintech company offering mobile banking and responsible credit to everyday consumers. Under his leadership, Upgrade has delivered over $35 billion in affordable credit to consumers in just over 6 years and launched Upgrade Card, an innovative credit card named the fastest growing credit card in America by Nilson Report in 2021 and 2022, making Upgrade the only fintech company ranked among the top 25 U.S. Card issuers. Upgrade was ranked the fastest growing company in the Americas by the Financial Times in 2021 and is one of the most valuable US fintech companies with a valuation that reached $6.3 billion in its latest financing round.
2025 AGENDA Sessions
Interview: Beyond the First Billion: Scaling Fintech Products Through Effective Distribution
Launching a fintech product is one thing—scaling it in a crowded market is another. With rising customer acquisition costs, increasing competition, and evolving regulations, fintechs must rethink distribution to sustain growth. Embedded finance, strategic partnerships, and platform integrations are now essential to reaching new customer segments and driving adoption. Renaud Laplanche, CEO of Upgrade, will share insights from scaling multi-billion-dollar products, highlighting how fintechs can expand reach while balancing innovation, regulatory constraints, and profitability. He’ll explore how distribution networks, embedded finance, and partnerships unlock new growth opportunities in industries beyond traditional financial services. This session will reveal strategies for aligning product innovation with distribution, acquiring customers in new contexts, and leveraging partnerships for expansion. Whether launching or scaling, you’ll gain actionable insights to drive adoption, retention, and long-term success.
Tuesday 11 March 09:35 - 09:55 Venetian Ballroom F-K
Dominating Distribution
Launching a fintech product is one thing—scaling it in a crowded market is another. With rising customer acquisition costs, increasing competition, and evolving regulations, fintechs must rethink distribution to sustain growth. Embedded finance, strategic partnerships, and platform integrations are now essential to reaching new customer segments and driving adoption. Renaud Laplanche, CEO of Upgrade, will share insights from scaling multi-billion-dollar products, highlighting how fintechs can expand reach while balancing innovation, regulatory constraints, and profitability. He’ll explore how distribution networks, embedded finance, and partnerships unlock new growth opportunities in industries beyond traditional financial services. This session will reveal strategies for aligning product innovation with distribution, acquiring customers in new contexts, and leveraging partnerships for expansion. Whether launching or scaling, you’ll gain actionable insights to drive adoption, retention, and long-term success.
Venetian Ballroom F-K US/Pacific